Mobile Communication Device With Audio Recorder

ABSTRACT

A mobile communication device that has self-contained audio recorder and playback circuitry therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of copending U.S. application Ser.No. 10/092,452, filed Mar. 7, 2002, which is entirely incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to mobile communication devices and, moreparticularly, to a mobile communication device that has means forrecording and playing back audio messages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND

Mobile communication devices, such as wireless and cellular telephones,personal digital assistants (“PDA's”), pagers, etc. are becomingincreasing popular and indispensable work tools for many individuals.Likewise, portable sound recording devices which enable the user torecord an audio memorandum and play it back at a later time have alsobecome popular. However, to have both capabilities, a user musttypically carry two separate devices.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,320 to Haimi-Cohen discloses a method and apparatusfor recording and playing back conversations using a digital wirelessphone.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,302 to Harrison discloses a wireless phone withremovable personal information manager.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,129 discloses enhanced user control operations forportable digital audio recorders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a mobile communication device comprising a housing and a mobiletelephone operably supported by the housing. A self-contained audiorecorder is operably supported by the housing.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a mobilecommunication device that includes a housing the operably supports amobile pager and a self-contained audio recorder.

Accordingly, the various embodiments of the present invention representunique and novel mobile communication devices and methods. Those ofordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, however, that theseand other details, features and advantages will become further apparentas the following detailed description of the embodiments proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying Figures, there are shown present embodiments of theinvention wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate likeparts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a mobile communicationdevice of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic depicting certain components of the mobilecommunication device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of a mobile communicationdevice of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic depicting certain components of the mobilecommunication device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4A is a partial schematic depicting certain components of anothermobile communication device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of another embodiment of a mobile communicationdevice of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the mobile communication device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial schematic depicting certain components of the mobilecommunication device of FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIG. 7A is a partial schematic depicting certain components of anothermobile communication device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings for the purposes of illustrating thepresent preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for thepurposes of limiting the same, it is to be understood that standardcomponents or features that are within the purview of an artisan ofordinary skill and do not contribute to the understanding of the variousembodiments of the invention are omitted from the drawings to enhanceclarity. The various embodiments of the present invention are directedto mobile communication devices that have the ability to record and playback an audio message. As used herein, the term “mobile communicationdevice” encompasses wireless and cellular telephones, PDA's (i.e., palmpilots, handspring devices), single and multiple way pagers, etc.

FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose one embodiment of a mobile communication device10 of the present invention. As can be seen in those Figures, device 10includes a housing 12 that houses a wireless telephone 20 and a“self-contained” audio recorder 50. As used herein, the term“self-contained” means that the recorder 50 includes all of thecomponents necessary to at least record and playback audio messageswithout interfacing with any other components or systems located apartfrom the device 10. Other functions such as the ability to fast forwardskip messages, etc. may also be included.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the componentsforming telephone 20 can comprise virtually any collection of mobile(i.e., wireless, cellular, etc.) telephone components. Thus, thetelephone portion 20 of the device 10 can be either analog or digitalwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the various embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a telephone 20 of one embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the telephone 20 may include an antenna22, conventional transmitter receiver circuitry 24, a conventionalmicroprocessor 26, conventional audio processing and microprocessorsupport circuitry 28, a conventional interface controller 30, aconventional alphanumeric display 32, a keypad 34, a “first” microphone36 and a “first” speaker 38 and any other conventional componentsnecessary for the telephone to interface with conventional mobiletelecommunication systems. The operation of such components andinteraction therebetween will be understood by those of ordinary skillin the art and therefore will not be discussed in great detail herein.

This embodiment of the present invention also includes an audio recorder50 which may include components set forth in FIG. 2. As can be seen inthat Figure, audio recorder 50 may be “self-contained” and include a“second” microphone 52 and a “second” speaker 54. A record/playbackcircuit 56 receives electrical sound signals generated at the microphone52 and records such signals on a recording medium 58. The recordingmedium 58 may comprise, for example, a conventional solid state memorycard or magnetic tape cassette. If digital recording is to be carriedout in the recorder 50, the record/playback circuit 56 may includeanalog-to-digital conversion circuitry. If that is the case, therecord/playback circuit 56 may include data compression/decompressioncircuitry. The record/playback circuit 56 may serve to reproduce astored sound signal from the recording medium and to process thereproduced signal to provide an output signal to the speaker.

A control circuit 60 may be employed to exchange signals with therecord/playback circuit 56. The control circuit 60 controls therecord/playback circuit 56 of the recorder 50 in general. In thisembodiment, the control circuit 60 may comprise a “second”microprocessor (not shown) or microcontroller (not shown). It will beunderstood that such controller device may include program memory andworking memory, which are also not separately shown. If desired, an LED61 may be employed to indicate when the recorder is in record mode.

In this embodiment, the recorder 50 also includes at least one switchmatrix 70 which enables the user to provide input to the control circuit20. Such collection switch matrix 70 may include one or more keys 72 forcommencing and discontinuing various functions such as record, playback,rewind and fast forward functions. The skilled artisan will appreciate,however, that some of the above-mentioned switches/keys may be omittedor replaced with other switches/keys. Furthermore, the keys 72 may eachoperate a respective switch 70 which is movable between a first position(nonactuated) and a second position (actuated). In one embodiment, forexample, some or all of the switches are biased toward their respectivenonactuated positions. In another embodiment, one or more of theswitches may be actuated by a shared key configuration, such as a rockerswitch. A variety of known switching arrangements and configurations maybe employed. For example, one arrangement that may be employed requiresthe user to actively maintain the record switch in the activatedposition to record an audio message onto the recording medium. Inanother “record lock” mode, recording is carried out without requiringthe user to maintain the record switch in the activated position.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the mobilecommunication device 10 may also include other components notspecifically shown, such as a power manager which controls the supply ofpower and ground potential to the various components and circuits of theof mobile telephone 20 and the audio recorder 50 such that separatetypes of power and grounding may be available for digital circuits,analog and audio circuits, and RF circuits. A rechargeable battery (notshown) may be included in the device 10 which supplies portable power tothe wireless telephone 20 and the audio recorder 50 and is rechargeablethrough a known charge control circuit. In addition, a chargingconnector (not shown) may also be included for receiving chargingcurrent from a charging accessory, such as, for example, a wall or tablemounted transformer. The mobile communication device 10 can be used as astandard mobile telephone and, when desired, the user can activate theaudio recorder 50 to take notes, record a message, etc. to be playedback at a later time.

Another embodiment of the mobile communication-device of the presentinvention is depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the mobilecommunication device 100 includes a mobile telephone 120 and an audiorecorder 150 that share certain components as will be described infurther detail below. Device 100 includes a housing 112 that supportsthe components of the mobile telephone 120 and the audio recorder 150therein. In this embodiment, the device 100 may include an antenna 122,conventional transmitter receiver circuitry 124, a conventionalmicroprocessor 126, conventional audio processing and microprocessorsupport circuitry 128, a conventional interface controller 130, aconventional alphanumeric display 132, a keypad 134, a microphone 136and a speaker 138 and any other conventional components necessary forthe telephone to interface with conventional mobile telecommunicationsystems.

The audio recorder 150 portion of the device 100 may be “self-contained”and include a record/playback circuit 156 for receiving electrical soundsignals generated at the microphone 136 and recording such signals on arecording medium 158. The recording medium 158 may comprise, forexample, a conventional solid state memory card or magnetic tapecassette. If digital recording is to be carried out, the record/playbackcircuit 156 may include analog-to-digital conversion circuitry. If thatis the case, the record/playback circuit 156 may include datacompression/decompression circuitry. The record/playback circuit 156 mayreproduce a stored sound signal from the recording medium and to processthe reproduced signal to provide an output signal to the speaker 138.Thus, in this embodiment, the telephone 120 and the audio recorder 150share a microphone and a speaker.

A control circuit 160 may also be employed to exchange signals with therecord/playback circuit 156. The control circuit 160 controls therecord/playback circuit 156 of the recorder 150 in general. In thisembodiment, the control circuit 160 may comprise a “second”microprocessor (not shown) or microcontroller (not shown) or, as shownin FIG. 4A, a common microprocessor 126 may be employed for operatingthe various components of the telephone 120 and the audio recorder 150and may include program memory and working memory, which are notseparately shown. In this embodiment, the recorder 150 may also includean LED 161 to indicate when the recorder is in the record mode.

Also in this embodiment, the recorder 150 may include at least oneswitch matrix 170 which enables the user to provide input to the controlcircuit 160. Such switch matrix may include one or more keys 172 forcommencing and discontinuing various functions such as record, playback,rewind and fast forward functions. The skilled artisan will appreciate,however, that some of the above-mentioned keys 172 may be omitted orreplaced with other keys. Furthermore, the keys 172 may each operate arespective switch that is movable between a first position (nonactuated)and a second position (actuated). In one embodiment, for example, someor all of the switches are biased toward the nonactuated position. Inanother embodiment, one or more of the switches may be actuated by ashared key configuration, such as a rocker switch. A variety of knownswitching arrangements and configurations may be employed. For example,one arrangement that may be employed requires the user to activelymaintain the record switch in the activated position to record an audiomessage onto the recording medium. In another “record lock” mode,recording is carried out without the requiring the user to maintain therecord switch in the activated position.

Another embodiment of the mobile communication device of the presentinvention is depicted in FIGS. 5-7. As can be seen in those Figures, thedevice 200 includes a wireless handheld device 220 and an audio recorder250. Hand held devices such as RIM wireless hand held devices are knownin the art and, therefore, their construction and operation will not bedisclosed herein beyond what is necessary to understand and implementthese embodiments of the subject invention. As can be seen in FIGS. 5-7,the device 200 includes a housing 212 that may support an antenna 222,transmitter receiver circuitry 224, a microprocessor 226, microprocessorsupport circuitry 228, an interface controller 230, a PDA display 232, aPDA key pad 234 and other conventional components. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 7, the device 200 includes an audio recorder 250 thatmay be “self-contained” and include a microphone 252 and a speaker 254.A record/playback circuit 256 receives electrical sound signalsgenerated at the microphone and records such signals on a recordingmedium 258. The recording medium 258 may comprise, for example, aconventional solid state memory card or magnetic tape cassette.

If digital recording is to be carried out in the recorder 256, therecord/playback circuit 256 may include analog-to-digital conversioncircuitry. If that is the case, the record/playback circuit 256 mayinclude data compression/decompression circuitry. The record/playbackcircuit 256 may serve to reproduce a stored sound signal from therecording medium 258 and to process the reproduced signal to provide anoutput signal to the speaker 254.

A control circuit 260 may be employed to exchange signals with therecord/playback circuit 256. The control circuit 260 may control therecord/playback circuit 256 of the recorder 250 in general. In thisembodiment, the control circuit 260 may comprise a microprocessor (notshown) or microcontroller (not shown). It will be understood that suchcontroller device may include program memory and working memory, whichare not separately shown. In the embodiment of FIG. 7A, the recorder 250and the PDA device 220 employ a common microprocessor 226. In theseembodiments, the recorder 250 may also include an LED 261 to indicatewhen the recorder is in the record mode.

In this embodiment, the recorder 250 may also include at least oneswitch matrix 270 which enables the user to provide input to the controlcircuit 260. Such switch matrix may include one or more keys 272 forcommencing and discontinuing various functions such as record, playback,rewind and fast forward functions. The skilled artisan will appreciate,however, that some of the above-mentioned keys may be omitted orreplaced with other keys. Furthermore, the keys 272 may each operate arespective switch which is movable between a first position(nonactuated) and a second position (actuated). In one embodiment, forexample, some or all of the switches 270 are biased toward thenonactuated position. In another embodiment, one or more of the switches270 may be actuated by a shared key configuration, such as a rockerswitch. A variety of known switching arrangements and configurations maybe employed. For example, one arrangement that may be employed requiresthe user to actively maintain the record switch in the activatedposition to record an audio message on to the recording medium. Inanother “record lock” mode, recording is carried out without requiringthe user to maintain the record switch in the activated position.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the device 200also includes other components not specifically shown, such as a powermanager which controls the supply of power and ground potential to thevarious components and circuits of the of the PDA and the audio recordersuch that separate types of power and grounding may be available fordigital circuits, analog and audio circuits, and RF circuits. Arechargeable battery (not shown) may be included in the device whichsupplies portable power to the PDA 220 and the audio recorder 250 and isrechargeable through a known charge control circuit. In addition, acharging connector may also be included for receiving charging currentfrom a charging accessory, such as, for example, a wall or table mountedtransformer.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that theabove-described device could comprise a one-way or two-way conventionalpager with an audio recorder therein. Thus, the present invention shouldnot be limited to wireless or cellular communication devices and PDAdevices specifically disclosed herein.

Thus, from the foregoing discussion, it is apparent that the variousembodiments of the present invention provide the user with the uniqueand novel ability to record and playback audio messages utilizing anyoneof the above-mentioned communication devices without having to carry aseparate devices. Those of ordinary skill in the art will, of course,appreciate that various changes in the details, materials andarrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated inorder to explain the nature of the invention may be made by the skilledartisan within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed inthe appended claims.

1. A method for facilitating transmission of data from a sender to arecipient, comprising: receiving data for transmission; providing asender prompt that includes a first option to transmit, to a receivingdevice configured to receive an electronic mail message, the receiveddata as an attachment to an electronic mail message and a second optionto transmit, to a receiving device configured to receive a facsimilemessage, the received data as a facsimile message; and responsive toreceiving selection of at least one of the options, prompting the senderfor an address associated with the selected receiving device.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to receiving selectionof the second option to transmit the received data as a facsimilemessage, converting the received data into a textual format associatedwith the receiving device that is configured to receive the facsimilemessage.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive toreceiving selection of the first option to transmit the received data asan attachment to an electronic mail message, attaching the receiveddata, as an audio file, to an electronic mail message and sending theelectronic mail message to the receiving device that is configured toreceive an electronic mail message.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinreceiving the data includes recording the received data as an audio fileat a sending device, the sending device including a communicationsendpoint.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein recording the received dataas an audio file includes: receiving the data as a text message; andconverting the text message to an audio file.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising receiving an address associated with the selectedreceiving device.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving an addressassociated with the receiving device includes receiving at least one ofthe following: a text message address and a spoken word address.
 8. Asystem for facilitating transmission of data from a sender to arecipient, comprising: a receiving component configured to receive datafor transmission; a providing component configured to provide a senderprompt that includes a first option to transmit, to a receiving deviceconfigured to receive an electronic mail message, the received data asan attachment to an electronic mail message and a second option totransmit, to a receiving device configured to receive a facsimilemessage, the received data as a facsimile message; and an addresscomponent configured to, responsive to receiving selection of at leastone of the options, prompt the sender for an address associated with theselected receiving device.
 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising,a converting component configured to, responsive to receiving selectionof the second option to transmit the received data as a facsimilemessage, convert the received data into a textual format associated withthe receiving device that is configured to receive the facsimilemessage.
 10. The system of claim 8, further comprising, an attachingcomponent configured to, responsive to receiving selection of the firstoption to transmit the received data as an attachment to an electronicmail message: attach the received data, as an audio file, to anelectronic mail message; and send the electronic mail message to thereceiving device that is configured to receive an electronic mailmessage.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the receiving component isfurther configured to record at least a portion of the received data asan audio file.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receivingcomponent is further configured to: receive the data as a text message;and convert at least a portion of the text message to an audio file. 13.The system of claim 8, further comprising an address receiving componentconfigured to receive an address associated with the selected receivingdevice.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein receiving an addressassociated with the receiving device includes receiving at least one ofthe following: a text message address and a spoken word address.
 15. Anendpoint communications device for facilitating transmission of datafrom a sender to a recipient, comprising: receiving logic configured toreceive data for transmission; providing logic configured to provide asender prompt that includes a first option to transmit, to a receivingdevice configured to receive an electronic mail message, the receiveddata as an attachment to an electronic mail message and a second optionto transmit, to a receiving device configured to receive a facsimilemessage, the received data as a facsimile message; and address logicconfigured to, responsive to receiving selection of at least one of theoptions, prompt the sender for an address associated with the selectedreceiving device.
 16. The device of claim 15, further comprising,converting logic configured to, responsive to receiving selection of thesecond option to transmit the received data as a facsimile message,convert the received data into a textual format associated with thereceiving device that is configured to receive the facsimile message.17. The device of claim 15, further comprising, attaching logicconfigured to, responsive to receiving selection of the first option totransmit the received data as an attachment to an electronic mailmessage: attach the received data, as an audio file, to an electronicmail message; and send the electronic mail message to the receivingdevice that is configured to receive an electronic mail message.
 18. Thedevice of claim 15, wherein the receiving logic is further configured torecord at least a portion of the received data as an audio file.
 19. Thedevice of claim 18, wherein the receiving logic is further configuredto: receive the data as a text message; and convert at least a portionof the text message to an audio file.
 20. The device of claim 15,further comprising address receiving logic configured to receive anaddress associated with the selected receiving device.